Contents
Chapter 96.
Overview
On the day of the marriage contract, Andrea asks Monte Cristo to act as paternal sponsor; Monte Cristo refuses but agrees to attend. During the signing, Monte Cristo reveals evidence sent to Villefort from a bloodstained waistcoat. Police arrive, exposing Andrea as an escaped convict and Caderousse’s murderer, prompting his flight and plunging the Danglars household into scandal.
Summary
Hours before the contract, Andrea Cavalcanti visits Monte Cristo, boasting of his imminent marriage and wealth. He asks Monte Cristo to lead him to the altar in place of his absent father. Monte Cristo refuses on principle but agrees to attend and sign. They discuss Danglars’s fortune, the railway speculation, and the handling of Eugénie’s dowry; Andrea betrays anxiety about funds, while Monte Cristo deflects and maintains distance.
That evening, Danglars’s salons fill with Parisian society. Eugénie appears composed; Madame Danglars converses lightly; Danglars courts financiers; Andrea basks in attention. Monte Cristo arrives, pays formal compliments to the baroness, Eugénie, and Louise d’Armilly, and then positions himself to observe as notaries prepare the contract.
The contract is read amid awe at the fortunes involved. As signatures begin—Danglars, then Cavalcanti’s representative, then the baroness—Monte Cristo interjects with news: a bloodstained waistcoat from the recent robbery at his house was found, containing a letter addressed to Danglars. He has sent this evidence to Villefort as proper legal procedure.
Andrea, alarmed, slips toward the exit. Moments later, a commissary of police and soldiers enter, seeking “Andrea Cavalcanti,” whom they announce is an escaped Toulon galley-slave accused of murdering Caderousse during the flight from Monte Cristo’s house. Panic ensues: Madame Danglars faints, Danglars quails, and the guests recoil. Andrea has already disappeared, leaving the contract shattered and the Danglars alliance disgraced.
Who Appears
- undefinedRefuses to act as Andrea’s patron; attends the contract; reveals incriminating waistcoat and letter, precipitating police action.
- undefinedGrooms for marriage to Eugénie; seeks Monte Cristo’s sponsorship; panics and flees when exposed as escaped convict and Caderousse’s killer.
- Baron DanglarsHosts the contract signing; boasts of fortunes; is terrified when police arrive and Andrea’s identity unravels.
- undefinedSocially poised during the ceremony; faints when police interrupt and Andrea is denounced.
- Eugénie DanglarsCalm and simply dressed bride-to-be; present at the contract, her marriage collapses amid the scandal.
- undefinedArrives with soldiers; announces Andrea is an escaped galley-slave accused of murdering Caderousse.
- undefinedPrepare and begin the reading and signing of the marriage contract before the proceedings are halted.
- Louise d’ArmillyEugénie’s friend; thanks Monte Cristo for letters to Italy; witnesses the disrupted signing.
- undefinedAccompanies the baroness during signing; notes Villefort’s absence due to the case.
- Lucien DebrayPresent among the guests, converses with Madame Danglars before the disruption.
- BeauchampJournalist attendee, observing the fashionable crowd and imminent scandal.
- undefinedAristocratic guest mingling at the contract signing before the police arrival.